West Virginia Senate Bill SB397

West Virginia 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/13/25
• Refer: 2/13/25

Caption

Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board rule relating to requirements for licensure and certification

Summary

Senate Bill 397 authorizes a legislative rule for the West Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board concerning requirements for licensure and certification. The bill does not create a new licensing framework in statute; instead, it gives effect to an existing rule filed in the State Register and revised to address objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee. The rule is identified as 190 CSR 02 and concerns the standards and procedures governing appraiser licensure and certification. In practical terms, the bill allows the Board’s administrative rule on appraiser qualifications to take effect under state law. This means the bill impacts the regulatory requirements for individuals seeking to become or remain licensed or certified real estate appraisers in West Virginia, as well as the Board’s authority to administer those requirements. The underlying statute being amended is §64-9-1 of the West Virginia Code, which is part of the Legislature’s process for approving agency rules.

Impact

SB397 amends §64-9-1 of the West Virginia Code to authorize a specific legislative rule of the Real Estate Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board, thereby giving legal force to the Board’s requirements for licensure and certification. The bill affects the regulatory standards applicable to real estate appraisers, including applicants and existing licensees/certificate holders, by validating the Board’s rulemaking on qualifications, compliance, and related administrative procedures.

Sentiment

The available context suggests generally routine and procedural support for the bill rather than controversy. Because the bill is an authorization measure for an agency rule that was already filed and revised to address committee objections, the discussion appears to be about completing the legislative approval process for a technical regulatory matter. No votes or committee transcripts are provided, so there is no evidence of opposition or strong debate in the available record.

Contention

The main potential point of contention is the substance of the Board’s rule on licensure and certification requirements, since legislative rule authorizations can draw scrutiny over whether agency standards are too restrictive, too lenient, or otherwise inconsistent with legislative intent. In this case, however, the bill text indicates the rule was modified to meet objections from the Legislative Rule-Making Review Committee, suggesting any concerns were addressed before introduction. No specific opposing viewpoints, stakeholders, or disputed provisions are identified in the provided materials.